U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon sworn in

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At 47 years old, Zachary Fardon becomes the next U.S. attorney of the northern district of Illinois.

Surrounded by friends and family and a room full of political VIPS, as well as top notch lawyers, guest speakers took a few jabs at the man hailed for his sense of calm under pressure and amazing courtroom delivery during the George Ryan trial. In 2005 he delivered opening statements for 90 straight minutes never glancing at a note. but the levity in the room quickly disappeared when the task at hand took center stage.

With his hand on a Bible, Fardon swore to obey and serve and, yes, attack gang violence with vigor. With big hitters like the mayor, the chief of Chicago police and the Cook County State’s Attorney watching from the front row, Fardon said he refused to accept the status quo.

Also in the room is U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. From Washington, he claims to bring good news: federal money from criminal forfeitures that will be directed to Chicago to bring more alcohol, tobacco and firearms agents to our desperate region. When or how much ispart of the greater unknown. Millions in federal money seems to be the suggestion.

Signaling once again that bipartisan politics is what unanimously placed Fardon in the post, Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk say their priority for him remains the same: reducing gang violence and protecting the innocent from illegal guns.